Luis Suarez time to explain 'finger'

Luis Suarez was last night granted more time to respond to the FA charge

We have the confidence to keep going and soon we will score more of our chances

Dirk Kuyt has insisted he is not worried by the Anfield outfit’s goal drought

The Liverpool striker was the target of abuse during his team’s 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage on December 5.Suarez was repeatedly called a ‘cheat’ by Fulham fans.

He was pictured making the obscene gesture to home supporters moments after the final whistle.

The FA announced last Wednesday that Suarez had been charged, and the Uruguay hot-shot originally had until 4pm yesterday to respond.

Liverpool were also given a similar deadline to respond to a charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion following the dismissal of Jay Spearing in the same game.

But the FA last night revealed that both Suarez and Liverpool had requested more time to respond, which had been granted.

An FA spokesman said: “This is not unusual. Both the player and the club asked for an extension and that has been granted.”

The FA refused to reveal the date for the new deadline. Suarez is already facing FA charges for allegedly aiming a racial slur at Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during the 1-1 draw at Anfield on October 15.

He has requested a personal hearing in relation to the incident.

Meanwhile, Suarez’s team-mate Dirk Kuyt has insisted he is not worried by the Anfield outfit’s goal drought.

The Reds have scored just 18 times in 15 league matches, with Suarez ending more than two months without a league goal with the winner against QPR at the weekend.

Kuyt, who was Liverpool’s top scorer last season with 15, has one Carling Cup goal this time round and has not found the net in the league since May.

He said: “I haven’t scored for a while but we all feel like we are close to it.

“We have the confidence to keep going and soon we will score more of our chances.

“The last six months of last season we were all scoring goals.

“Sometimes, in football, it is like this. You have to keep working hard and it will come.

“Last season I was scoring five or six games in a row and everything I touched was going in.

“Now sometimes you are a little bit unlucky to be just in the wrong position or you just miss a chance – that is football.

“I will work hard and wait until the time comes. I am sure with the way this team plays everyone up front will score loads of goals.”